Sovan Chatterjee joins BJP – Blunt BJP’s Anti-Corruption Crusade

News Frontliner Web Desk, 20 August 2019: Induction of
former Kolkata Mayor and four times TMC MLA Sovan Chatterjee into BJP last week
will definitely blunt BJP’s anti-corruption crusade against the Mamata Banerjee
government; especially for the learned and sensible voters, feels BJP insiders.

Mr
Chatterjee, a two time mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation besides being a
minister, was a close lieutenant of Ms Banerjee; he had been asked by her to
resign from his post as both minister and mayor in November last year following
issues in his personal life.

Mr.
Sovan Chatterjee is one of the prime accused in Narada Scam was seen on camera
accepting bribe and opposition parties including the Bengal BJP has made Narada
Scam as one of the main election issue.

Chatterjee was one of TMC’s prime organisers in Kolkata
and its southern fringes. Having served as mayor twice (between 2010 and 2018),
he has his own network of followers among the city’s councillors and also other
grassroot-level organisers; which the BJP intends to cas in on for the next assembly
election.

When asked to comment on allegations of corruption
against Mr Chatterjee, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said those have not been
proved. “Allegations against him (Sovan Chatterjee) are not proved. If it
is proved then the party will take a call accordingly. And you must remember
one thing – TMC is a party which supports corruption and BJP fights
corruption,” Mr Ghosh said.

Opposition CPI(M) and Congress have alleged that Mr
Chatterjee has switched to BJP to evade CBI in Narada scam.

“My joining the BJP has nothing to do with the
investigation in the Narada scam. I have joined BJP as I am disillusioned with
the functioning of TMC,” Mr Chatterjee said.